Monday, Feb. 16, 2004 | 9:37 a.m.
Saturday night, Dave Marlin was a backup goalie with the Fresno Falcons who hadn't seen playing time in three weeks, and had played in only13 games in his three-year pro career.
Sunday evening, Marlin was the Wranglers' young hero.
Marlin, released by Fresno and signed by the Wranglers, started in goal for weary Marc Magliarditi, and helped Las Vegas to a generally ugly 6-4 win against the Long Beach Ice Dogs in front of an announced crowd of 4,439 at the Orleans Arena.
Las Vegas improved to 30-16-5, and pulled to within five points of San Diego for first place in the ECHL's Pacific Division.
A long night of travel and relocating for Marlin and a quick start by the Ice Dogs -- Alex Kim scored the first of his two goals just 47 seconds into the game -- left many figuring the game would be a rough debut for the new goaltender.
But thanks to some good saves by Marlin and excellent, fresh defense by the Wranglers, Long Beach wouldn't score again until about halfway through the second period, and didn't score at all in the third. Marlin skated away with 23 saves.
In between the Ice Dogs' first and second goals, Las Vegas lit up Long Beach goalie Colin Zulianello for four goals, and knocked another by Ice Dogs goalie T.J. Aceti, who came in about a third of the way through the first period.
"It was huge. We obviously came back," Wranglers coach Glen Gulutzan said. "I think we kind of got some lucky goals, but we needed them to hang on."
Marlin, seemingly relaxed at a promotional postgame skate, said the offensive support was instrumental for his confidence.
"It takes the pressure off a little," he said. "When you're up 5-1 after 20 minutes, it's kind of like you have the game locked. But you don't quit, you work hard, or they'll battle their way back into the game."
And battle Long Beach did, through added pressure and through coercing Las Vegas into the penalty box. The Wranglers tallied up 16 minor penalties, five of which were for roughing and another three for unsportsmanlike conduct. But Marlin and the Wranglers defense battled through it, allowing Long Beach three power play goals on nine power plays, and surviving back-to-back five-on-three disadvantages in the third period.
"I think the big thing for us defensemen was to try and get into the shooting lanes and block as many shots as we can," Wranglers Jonathan Shockey said. "We try not to make the goalie have to make too many big saves. We have to let him build confidence."
Confidence, said Marlin, was a key player in surviving his early slip and the second period struggles.
"I wasn't too happy with it, two of the goals, in retrospect, I want back," Marlin said. "I wasn't sharp, I didn't feel crisp, but that happens. All you can do is battle. The team came to play, and we were lucky enough to get the win."
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